Degree of likelihood that hell be the nominee of his party, but and you wont be surprised to hear me say this i think Hillary Clintons gonna be elected president. I dont think it will be easy. I think its gonna be a long, tough campaign, whether its against mr. Trump or someone else, but i think shell be elected, principally because shes got the kind of experience i think people expect and his approach to some of the domestic challenges, like the lack of wage growth and having a strategy to raise wages, her foreignpolicy and security credentials. So, i think its a good matchup for our side and for hillary, but i think it will be a tough race. Do you sympathize with the core supporters of trump who say, listen, for a variety of reasons, whether its taxes or anything else, i am fed up with government. It doesnt speak for me anymore. And you, of course, are, they would say, part of the problem, being in congress. Theres no question that the kind of dysfunction weve seen in the last couple years, especially in the congress, is part of that frustration. I think it also has its origin in a lack of wage growth over the last 40 years. We basically had wage growth at 90 between world war ii and the early 70s. Since the early 70s, wage growth, on average, for those 40 years is about 9 . Neither party, i think, has appropriately addressed that. Im glad thats one of the major elements and major features of hillarys campaign to raise wages. But theres no question weve got to Work Together in washington to tackle problems. For example, the other day, we had a bipartisan agreement to address the opioid problem the number of overdoses and deaths from opioid abuse, or heroin but our side proposed investments in programs that we know will work, and republicans blocked it, so that kind of blocking when it comes to a major priority, i think, leads to some of that frustration. One more thing about Hillary Clinton now. You endorsed her more than a almost a year ago. April, yeah. Very early on in the process. Do you feel that maybe joe biden is somehow waiting in the wings just in case this email thing becomes such a problem that even her as the nominee wouldnt be able to go forward . Im not a believer in waitinginthewings strategies or scenarios. I think hillarys gonna be the nominee, for sure, and i think shes gonna be the president , for sure not without a challenge, not without a tough fight. Pennsylvania will be central to what will happen in the general election. We also will have a primary debate here, as well, i believe, but i think shes gonna win. Pennsylvania primary is later this month. Big race here is the race for u. S. Senate. We know pat toomey will be the republican nominee. Three people are some of the big contenders to run against him. Would you like to endorse one of them right now . We have three strong candidates. [ chuckles ] would you like to endorse kathleen mcginty, who Governor Wolf supports . I may weigh in on that during the primary, but, matt, im afraid today i dont have any news for you. Fair enough. Fair enough. I have to try. But let me just say this. Look, we have a primary, and thats always it seems like democrats always have primaries. But i think at the end of this primary, were gonna have a nominee that will be strong, that will have been tested, and i think can make a strong case in the general election against pat toomey. You had a big trip to the middle east, and youre trying to find ways to cut off funding to isis, and you may introduce legislation in washington. Do you think i know that we get bogged down with the president ial race. We dont talk a lot about isis nowadays. Is it stronger . Is it weaker . Is is the same . Certainly weaker in terms of territory. Because of our air strikes and because of the coalitions efforts, they had territory months ago that they dont have now, probably on the order of between 30 and 40 . So, thats a good result. The challenge, though, is they are still recruiting. Theyre still inspiring. We see events here. We saw an individual in philadelphia shooting at a police officer, claiming to be inspired by isis, a young man in harrisburg arrested at the end of last year, a 19yearold claiming to be inspired, so whether these lonewolftype incidents are inspired by isis or not, weve got to make sure that we can keep taking the fight to isis with the coalition helping us, but cutting off their financing is a big part of it. Im gonna have a bill to deal with that. One more thing i want to talk to you about the u. S. Supreme court. Will president obama nominate someone soon . Will it be a republican, and will it be someone that the u. S. Senate should consider . I think its yes, no, and yes. How soon might we see a nominee . I think he will nominate in the next couple of weeks, maybe the next two weeks. Number one, its possible itd be a republican, but i wouldnt bet on that. But the last question is probably the most important right now. The Republican Senate is saying they wont consider a nominee. They have a constitutional duty to consider that nominee. Theyve got to do their job and consider that nominee. And theyve even gone so far, matt, as to say they wont even meet with that person if they come in to their waiting room. I dont know how you deny a meeting to someone whos been nominated for the Supreme Court by the president of the United States. Doesnt make sense to me, and its contrary to the constitution. Senator bob casey, thanks for joining us on inside story. Matt, thank you. Well be right back. Inside story is presented by temple university. Temple fuels students with academics and opportunities to take charge. Plugged into the city, powered by the world. Temple. Edu takecharge. Lemme get a mcpick 2. Check out the fresh new look on Mcdonalds Mcpick 2 menu lemme get a mcpick 2 now, choose any 2 delicious mcdonalds classics for just 5 bucks. Mix n match share n savor 2 for 5 name your flavor pick any 2 iconic tastes a big mac made with 100 beef, flaky filetofish, seared on the grill quarter pounder with cheese or crispy 10piece chicken mcnuggets for just 5 bucks. Grab a friend today and pick your faves lemme get a mcpick 2 bada ba ba ba we made some wholesale changes to our table here. Lets meet our insiders of the week. First up, george burrell, nonprofit executive and attorney. Hi, george. Morning, matt. Renee amoore, gop state official. Good morning. Hey, matt. Good morning. Ajay raju, attorney. Hey, ajay. Morning. And val digiorgio, gop state official. Morning. Hey, val. All right. Lets move in to governor christie. The question is, did he blow it with his decision to support donald trump . The new jersey republican, as you know, bowed out of the president ial race and endorsed trump for president. Christie is really the first major republican to do so and certainly the first among the former president ial candidates. This has caused all sorts of trouble for him. Meg whitman, a former Christie Campaign operative, has disowned him. Six newspapers in new jersey want him to resign. Christie looked uncomfortable during that News Conference with donald trump, standing behind him, which he went on to say, well, you know, i really wasnt. I was just standing there, thinking. Will this ruin christie, or and, val, let me ask you this will this turn out to be a good political move later on, looking back . I guess if donald trump becomes president , it will, if he becomes attorney general or whatever deal he cut. You know, as im watching that debate where he took rubios knees from under him, legs from under him, i said, what deal did he make with donald . And it looks like it turned out to be true. He cut some deal. Do you believe so . Thats what it seems like to me. Now, hes got a problem, though. How is he gonna govern . Hes got two state senators and three, four, maybe up to five assemblymen of the Republican Party calling for his resignation. How does he govern there for the next 23 months . So, its a problem. Ive heard a lot of backlash at republican headquarters in Chester County about it. And he looked he looked like a supplicant, standing next to trump when trump was giving that speech the other day. It really made him look goes from this strong leader to this lap dog for donald trump. Its almost embarrassing. So. Chime in. Whos next here . If he can be a. G. , hell be quite happy. Thats what hes looking at. Hes positioning himself. He definitely cut a deal. Thats the bottom line. Look, most of the folks running, you guys, know that they cant be president , but theyre positioning themselves for something for them. Christie wont have a job in a couple years, so he wants to make sure he has one. Matt, the sitcom that is america jumped the shark on super tuesday, and the republican establishment keeps serving on the same script without listening to the feedback from the audience. The fact is that Donald Trumps inevitable presidency and nomination is now pretty much clear, so the only thing you can do to catch this runaway train to get off your rear end and chase it. The question is, can you now have a brokered convention . Otherwise, you will see more people like christie and others fall in line to follow that inevitability. But i think, also, christie look, i dont think this kills christie. I mean, four years from now, the whole world will change. He has an opportunity to come back. But i think the interesting thing is that he said that he could consider running for president again, and i think christie has decided that the model for him is not internal to the party, but its to be the kind of donald trump clone. Donald trump stole christies style. Christie was appealing to the people. He was the rough guy making the hard statements, not beholding to anybody. And i think hes seen that model work, and i think christie thinks, im a more substantive guy who, four years from now or eight years from now, could make that case. I think hes saying, im never gonna be the partys darling anymore. But as a responsible leader within the Republican Party, i think were watching right now an unfortunate thing. Youre seeing the great party of lincoln and reagan burning in a raging trash fire, and thats exactly whats happened. So, i think there was a responsibility on folks like Chris Christie who have credibility within the Republican Party romney and others who are making sure that the fissures and the breakup that is happening within the Republican Party can be brought back. And i think what were watching right now is an unfolding of the Great Old Party grand old party. Weve got an element of the party who feels that and its not just true in the Republican Party, its in general that the values that they believe theyve been told that those values make them bigots or racists or whatever, so donald trump gets up there, speaks his truths, speaks the mind, and they say, i dont care that hes not a conservative. I dont care that he doesnt stand for the things i stand for. Hes gonna fight against political correctness. Hes gonna fight against the establishment, which includes the Republican Party. And thats what youre seeing here. Hes giving voice to people who feel that they have not had an advocate for them. Thats why hes doing so well. Thats why hes gonna continue to do so well. And if we go to a convention and hes got the delegates, or enough of them we go to a convention and go another way, were gonna see a real problem in the Republican Party. We have to respect our voters. Also, you dont see had a couple of endorsements go ahead, george. I think the people in the country dont see this loyalty to party as much anymore. Whether its republican or democrat, what they see are people who are selfinterested and who are promoting their own agenda and using the philosophy of their parties simply to promote their own agendas, and i think people are terribly frustrated by that, and thats why these independent voices who say crazy things that have no basis in them and no ability to do them sound good to people. And theyre angry people. Youre looking at folks that are angry. Theyve had it. They dont have a job. Their familys suffering. They dont have food on their table. So, theyre saying, look, hes gonna give us an opportunity. Hes gonna give us a big chance, so were going for it. But this is what the establishment said a few months ago. The fact is that whenever you have economic uncertainty, threats from abroad or within, whether theyre real or perceived doesnt matter you have the electorate and the this is an abc news special report. Good afternoon. Im dan harris at headquarters in new york. We are interrupting regular programming to bring you breaking news. Former first Lady Nancy Reagan has died. She was 94 years old. Mrs. Reagan had been living in bel Air California and had been in Failing Health in recent years. Once said her life began when she met her husband and future president Ronald Reagan in 1951. Their close relationship over the next five decades was seen as a modern love story, a model love story especially during their first years as the first family of california and then as president and first lady from 1981 until 1989. Mrs. Reagan returned to public life after her husband announced he had al sooimers disease in 1994. She advocated for millions of others and families affected from that disease. Her few public appearances centered mainly on keeping her husbands legacy alive as well as meeting with the leaders of the Republican Party who continued to seek her out. Many of you may remember moments like these, the former first lady paying a quiet visit to her husbands grave as she did every year on the anniversary of the president s death. Abcs cecelia vega looks back at the extraordinary life of nancy reagan. Reporter at the 1996 Republican National convention nancy reagan made a tribute to her husband. It moved the delegates and the nation. So let me close with ronnys words, not mine. It showed that part of her legacy would be how she carried on his. Never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never, never lose your natural godgiven optimism. It was that optimism that carried them to the end. Ronald reagan died june 5th, 2004. Nancy shared her grief with the nation. Mrs. Reagans journey began as Ann Francis Robins in 1921. After graduating from Smith College she became an actress appearing on broadway and in hollywood films. In 52 she married Ronald Reagan. They would make one film together, her last. In 1956 hellcats of the navy. Shifting roles from wife to mother, to patty and ron jr. And maureen from president reagans first marriage. I Ronald Reagan. He was sworn in as the 40th president of the United States in 1981. Nancy right there by his side. She brought some hollywood glamour back to the white house but her style wasnt as always appreciated and was criticized for accepting a Million Dollars worth of designer dresses and expensive china. She was always fiercely protective of her husband. After he was shot in 1981, she became obsessed with his safety. One former chief of staff revealing mrs. Reagan consulted an as trolgs to plan the president s schedule and she even coached him on what to say to reporters. Doing everything we can. As first lady she also campaigned against teen drug and alcohol abuse with the now famous slogan just say no. All of us thank you and president reagan for helping us just say no to drugs. She later turned it to a cause many republicans disagreed with, Stem Cell Research which could some day help others with alzheimers. The Republican Party was not the center of her life, Ronald Reagan was and she saw an immediate potential application of Stem Cell Research to the person she cared about most in all the world. Her Public Perception has undergone a profound transformation over the years widely viewed in her final decade as a leading political light. She was endlessly courted by republican contenders constantly cited as a par gone of genuine conservative virtue. But what she will be most remembered for, the essential cause from which she never wavered from providing iron strength and absolute devotion to her husband. All my days our love is here to Stay Together were going a long, long way and they did go a long, long way. Nancy reagan dead today at 94. Lets bring in abc news chief White House Correspondent jonathan karl. Good morning to you. Can you tell us more about the influence she had within the Republican Party especially in these later years and at this moment now where the Republican Party is in such turmoil. The timing is just incredible, dan. Nancy reagan as you heard cecilia refer to in her story was often controversial as first lady and fought with some of reagans top advisers and she was the guardian of Ronald Reagan, above all things, jealously protecting him from anybody who she saw that would in any way cause him any trouble at all. In the years since he died she became the protector of the Ronald Reagan legacy and when you think of the towering figure that reagan is and has been in this party. This is really over the last several decades become the party of lincoln and the party of Ronald Reagan. And it was nancy reagan who carried that flame, kept that flame lit every president ial election cycle, the republican candidates for president would come out to the Reagan Library. There would be, you know, there would be a debate there invited personally by nancy reagan. In the years in between the president ial election years, being invited to come and give a speech at the Reagan Library at the invitation of nancy reagan was a sign of aformation. She was the guardian of that legacy and the idea that she is dying on this day, just as the Republican Party is facing its greatest crisis since Abraham Lincoln accepted the nomination in 1960 is quite remarkable. For what do you think she will be most remembered . Many people of our generation remember just saying no. But for what do you think shell be most remembered by history . Well, i think shell be remembered as the one who carried the flame of Ronald Reagan that guarded his legacy, that kept his legacy alive. She was an active first lady, obviously the just say no campaign was the thing she became known for most as first lady. But she remained a major figure long after Ronald Reagan left the white house. As he left the white house, obviously struggling with alzheimers. She was the one who was the public face of the reagan legacy of Ronald Reagan himself and the way she handled his struggle with alzheimers in the remaining years of his life when he fell almost completely out of public view and she was the one who spoke for reagan, she was the one who was the guardian of that legacy. Jon have we heard from her at all or in recent months as the Republican Party became obsessed with sort of internal battles over the role of donald trump and is there anything that she said in the past that would allow us to extrapolate to what her opinion of this situation might be . We had not heard from her, you know, this last debate at the Reagan Library earlier on in this crazy primary cycle, it was once again the invitation from nancy reagan but in poor health she was not present. Shes been struggling in terms of her health. Its one of the questions that i know i have had and so many people have had, what would reagan think of what was going on here . What is nancy reagan thinking about what is happening to this party . Ultimately to the legacy of Ronald Reagan and unfortunately 94 years old we did not hear from her in her final months. Stand by. I want to bring in a special correspondent for vanity fair. He has written about Ronald Reagan and nancy reagan and their relationship. Bob, are you with us . Yes. Thank you for joining us by the phone. Bring us a little bit if you will into the emotional core of her relationship with Ronald Reagan. Well, nancy loved Ronald Reagan with her whole being. You know, this was a total meeting of the minds and it was a romantic relationship that worked on every level. That love gave him the confidence and support and optimism really after his mother, she was definitely the person who he was closest to by far. And they were very much a team. Starting when they married in 1952 and were both out of work actors 14 years later, he was governor. She paved the way in so many ways. She sought out the wives of powerful republicans in california who made his run for governor possible. She was thought of as behind the scenes of the personnel director of every reagan operation campaign. Including in the white house. She made sure he had good people around him and when they werent good she was the one who had to sort of organize their exit because Ronald Reagan didnt like to fire anybody. He was too nice a guy. One can not exaggerate how important her role was as first lady. Its hard to forget that moment where hes facing the press and she feeds him the line and he repeat it. I just want to read here a tweet from their son. He says im saddened by the passing of my step mother, she is once again with the man she loved. God bless. Can you give us a sense of the impact that Ronald Reagans health troubles, his struggles with alzheimers disease had on his wife nancy reagan . She was devastated by the news but she described to me when he was told by the doctor he definitely had alzheimers how he went right to his desk and wrote that beautiful let tore the american people. She never left his side. She would come to new york when he was still not so bad for a day or two and she called him every night at 10 00 new york time. In the middle of a dinner party she would call him. Once he really took a fall at age 90 and then deteriorated much more, she basically never left the house. She went to lunch up at Bel Air Hotel around the corner and couldnt wait to get home to him. I think patty davis, their daughter confirmed that with nancy at home just before he died he had been in a coma and he opened his eyes and looked at nancy and it was like he was saying goodbye. Its one of these love stories thats almost unbelievable. But its really true. The whole thing is true. An incredible love story and it played out in public for so many years. We have just a moment left. I wonder if you might comment a bit on what jon karl was talking about a moment ago, about what nancy reagan might think about whats happening right now in the Republican Party and the internal warfare thats erupted over donald trump . I think she would be appalled. We spoke just last week but it was a brief talk and didnt get around to talking about this. She was very politically aware and always favored the more pragmatic and dignified kind of leaders, politicians like james baker. These were her allies in the white house. Ronald reagan had the 11th command which is republicans do not make ill of each other. I think whats going on, this kind of circus i cant see pleasing her. You know, she always took the high road and so did her husband. I regret that i wasnt able to actually get her opinion on whats going on, but i assume she wasnt too thrilled. Yeah. I think you are not alone in that assumption. Bob, i want to thank you for your insight and expertise on this day when we are marking the passing of the former first Lady Nancy Reagan, she died at age 94. Born on july 6th, 1921. She had been living in bel air, california and she had been in Failing Health in recent years. Our thanks again to bob and jon karl. We will be tracking this story all day right here on abc news. Announcer this has been a special report from abc news
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